Talking machine



Sept. 27, 1932. H. A. THOMPSETT TALKING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 ISnucntor Filed April 2'7, 1929 Sept? 27, 1932- H. A. THOMPSETT 1,379,593

TALKING MACHINE Filed April 27. 1929 i 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept. 27, 1932. THQMPSETT 4 1,879,593

TALKING MACHINE Filed Ap'r'i'l 27, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Attorneys.

Sept. 27, 1932. H. A. THOMPSETT 1,879,593

- TALKING MACHINE Filed April 27, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 flttorneys.

5615i. 27, 1932. THOMPSETT 1,879,593

TALKING MACHINE Filed April 27, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 mmen/rok M Mad 7% By W flttorvceys.

li atented Sept. 2? W32 waste RATIOIE Q1? DELAWARE J31. con-1 TALKING MAGHINE Application filed Apri127, 1929, Serial Il'o. 358,719, and in Great Britain IL'ay M, 1923.

This invention relates to improvements in means for automatically feeding a series of records singly in succession from a record magazine to the turntable of a talking machine, and in particular to improvements in means of that kind which comprise an arm provided with record engaging means and adapted to be swung about a vertical axis so that the record engaging means move between positions over the magazine and over the turntable.

Amongst the objects of the invention is to provide an arrangement of parts whereby the size of the magazine talking machine employing this type of record -teed is reduced to a minimum. Further objects are to proride an improved arrangement whereby the swinging arm may be moved vertically when over the magazine or turntable either automatically or by hand and whereby a minimum of efiort is called for on the part of the machine motor to raise said swinging arm automatically.

The swinging record feeding arm may be mounted at one end upon a rotatable and vertically movable post and carry at the other end a series of radiating movable arms the extremities of which are furnished with hooks to grip the edge of the record to be fed from magazine to turntable.

In the improved arrangement according to the present invention the axisabout which the record feeding arm swings is situated adjacent thesound arm-pivot and the distance between said axis and the turntable spindle is less than the distance between'the sound arm pivot and the turntable spindle so that the records in the magazine lie with their edges close to the edge of a record on the turntable and a short record feeding arm may be used.

The raising and lowering movements of the record feeding arm are effected at appropriate intervals by the motor of the machine through the medium of a transmission which includes a member formed of two parts, said member being adapted to be moved as a single whole by the machine motor to eiiect lifting and lowering movements of the corn veyor, while relative movement of the two parts is permitted when the conveyor is lifted or lowered by hand.

The swinging'movement of the conveyor arm is effected by means which permit the operation to be carried out either automatically or by'hand.

The invention is illustrated by way of enample in the accompanying drawings in I which Fig. 1 is a plan view of an automatic talhing machine to which the invention has been applied.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the parts essential to the understanding of the present invention and separated from any support.

Fig. 3 is a plan view with the supporting base plate removed.

Figs. 4: and 5 illustrate the operating cams and transmission mechanism in two positions.

Fig. 6 is a detail view of. part of the mechanism shown in Figs. 4: and 5.

Referring to Fig; 1, 1 is a base plate mounted in a casing and supporting an electric motor 2 on its underside.

. The motor 2 drives the usual turntable spindle 3 mounted to rotate in a bearing in the base plate 1 and carrying a turntable i. A. clutch plate 5 is mounted on the spindle 3 and normally remains stationary with regard thereto and on this plate is pivotally mounted at 6 an arc-shaped lever 7 furnished on its inner periphery with a tooth 8 which, when lever 7 is permitted to move under the pull of a spring 9 connected between the lever 7 and a stud 10 on the plate 5, engages with a toothed wheel 11 fixedly mounted on the spindle 3 to clutch plate 5 to the spindle. The lever 7 is normally, that is to say during play ing, held in the clutch out position shown in Fig. 1 by the engagement of its free end with oneend of a lever 12 pivoted intermediate its ends at 13 on the base plate 1 and this lever is adapted to be rocked in well known manner against a spring 12' connected between lever 12 and a stud 13 on the base plate upon reversal of the direction of movement of the sound arm 14, when the end of a record is reached, through the engagement of the stylus in an excentric groove near the center ofthe record, by a toothed 'wheel 15 mounted to rotate against friction on a pin 16 carried on an arm 17 rigid with the sound arm 14, said wheel being adapted to-ride freely over teeth or ratchets 18 carried on'the end of lever 12 during playing, but to engage its teeth with those of ratchets 18 to rock lever 12 when the direction of movement of the sound arm 14 is reversed.

When lever 12 is rocked as described above, and plate 5 is clutched to s indle 3, the drive of the motor is transmitte to a cam shaft 19 journalled in bearings in the machine through a train of gears which includes a gear wheel 5' (Fig. 2) rigid with plate 5 and gears 20, 21 and 22 of which 20 and 21 are integral with one another while the last mentioned 22 is ri id with the camshaft 19. Upon the cam sha t is carried a series of cams, and these are adapted through suitable transmission mechanisms to automatically effect a series of operations including raising the sound arm 14 to disengage the stylus from the record,

swing said sound arm outwards to a position the parts are in the normal or playing posi-' tion.

When the lever 12 is rocked as described I above to put in the clutch, pin is moved from de ression 24 and the lever 12 is prevented om returnin to its'original position while thecamsha t 19 is rotating, by the engagement of pin 25 with the inner wall of ring 23, until the camshaft has completed one revolution, whereupon the lever 12 returns to the osition shownin Fig. 1 where it eng)ages t e end of lever 7 to put out the clutch.

uring one complete revolution of cm shaft 19 a complete cycle of automatic operations is effected.

The records to be played are mounted in a pile (one only being shownin Fig. 2) with their central "apertures over a s indle 24 mounted so as to be capable of vertical movement in a sleeve 25 mounted in the baseplate 1, the lower end of the s indle 24 extending below said base plate. e transfer'of the records singly in succession from the ile to the playing position on the turntab e 4 is efieoted by means of an arm 26 mounted on a spindle 27 movable in a fixed bearing sleeve 28 on the base plate so that said arm 26 is capable of rising and falling and of swinging horizontally between a position over the magazine and a position over the turntable- (see F i 2). The arm 26 is furnished at its free en with radiating arms 29 and 30 and beneath the arms 26, 29 and 30 are arranged resilient arms 31 having hooks 32 at their extremities which engage and grip the uppermost record in the magazine in known manner when the arm 26 is in the position shown in full lines in. Fig. 2 and are operable to release the record after the transfer arm 26 has been swung into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, and lowered over the turntable as fully described in British Patent 291,480.

The spindle 27 forming the axis about which the arm 26 swings is situated, as is clearly shown in Fig. 1 at a point adjacent the pivot of the sound arm 14, but at a shorter distance from the turntable spindle 3 than the said sound arm pivot. The records in the magazine lie with their edges close to the.

edge of a record in the playing position, and thus a short arm 26 may be used and the machine is kept compact.

For raising and lowering the spindle 27 and arm 26 and the record centering spindle 24, a shaft 33 of square section is mounted to rock in bearings in members 34 depending from the underside of the base plate 1. On the shaft 33 at oints near its ends are mounted two lateral y extending arms, 35, 36 provided with slotted ends 37 and 38 respectively which are connected to the lower ends of the spindles 24 and 27, as shown in Fig. 2, through screws and nuts 39, 40, which also permit initial adjustments of the height of spindles 24 and 27 with regard to arms 35, 36.

Between points intermediate the ends of the arms and 36 and the base plate are connected counterbalancing springs 41, these springs'at their upper ends passing through short sleeves 42 screwed into the base plate and being held at their upper ends by means of ins 43.

t a point on the shaft 33 between the arms 35 and 36 is rigidly mounted an upwardly extending arm 44 and this arm is adapted to be-moved between the ositions shown in full and dotted-lines in means transmitting movement from the camshaft 19 to rock theshaft 33 and thereb raise and lower'spindles 24 and 27 throug arms 35 and 36.

The means for rocking the arm 44 compi'ises a air of shaped cams 45, 46', rigid .on

the cams aft 19 and a transmission member 47 formed in two parts 48 and 49 superimposed upon one another. The part 49 carries guide pins 50 and 51 which extend through guide slots 52 and 53 formed in part 48 so that guided longitudinal movements relatively to one another are permitted tothe parts 48 and 49. The two parts are connected by tension springs 54-55 stretched between pins 56 on the parts 48 and 49 and these springsserve to hold the two parts in the position where the member 47 is of shortest length.

The lower endof guide pin 51 which is rigid with part 49 serves as a bearing to carry a roller 57 which co-operates with cam 46 and a pin .on the underside of the end'of part 48 carries aroller 58 which co-operates' with cam 45. Part 48 is furnished with a guide slot 59 through which passes the camshaft 19, and a collar 60 is provided on the latter to engage the edges of the slot 59 whereby the part 48 is guided during movement. The outer end of part 49 is bent to lie in a vertical plane and is pivotally connected between lugs on the upper end of the upwardly extending arm 44 by means of a. pin 44.

When the cycle of operations referred to above commences the cam shaft 19 rotates taking with it cams 46 and 45. Cam 46 engages roller 57 on part 49 and the latter is caused to move to the left in Fig. 2 so that arm 44 is moved into the position shown indotted lines in Fig. 2 and shaft 33 and arms and 36 are rocked to raise record centering spindle 24, spindle 27 and record conveyor arm 26 together with the uppermost record of the pile in the magazine. It will be readily understood that the additional work which the motor is called upon to perform in effecting this movement is considerably reduced by the counterbalancing springs 41.

The shape of cam engaging roller 58 on part 48 is such that during this movement cart 48 moves as one piece with part 49. During the time that roller57 is in engagement with the high part of cam 46 the spindles 24 and 27 remain in the'raised position and the arm 26 is swung from the position over the magazine to the position over the turntable by means yet to be described.

At the appropriate time during the rotation of camshaft 19 the arm 26 is lowered over the turntable to release the transferred record in known manner from the hooks 32 and this lowering movement is efiected by rocking shaft in the opposite direction to that previously described through the engagement of cam 45 with roller 58 on part 48, the roller 57 meanwhile rolling on the low part of cam 46. To ensure that the arm 26 shall be lowered to the necessary full extent, even a in the event of any tendency existing on the part of roller 57 to lag behind cam 46 owing i to the use of the counterbalance springs 41,

the cam 45 may be shaped as shown at 45' to move roller 58 and part 48 a short distance longitudinally of part 49 to stretch the springs 54-55 and thus an additional pull is exerted upon part 49 to maintain roller 57 in contact with cam 46.

The subsequent raising of the arm 26 over the turntable and final lowering over the pile of records in the magazine is effected in similar manner to that described above during the remainder of the complete revolution of cam shaft 19.

The arm 26 may be lifted by hand, for example when loading the magazine, independently of the rotation of the cam shaft 19, rocking movement of shaft 33 and arms 35, 36 and 44 being permitted through part 49 moving longitudinally of part 48, the roller 57 movin awa from cam 46 and the s rin s 54, being stretched.

The means for swinging the arm 26 about its vertical axis when in the. raised position comprises a plate 61 rigid with spindle 27 and a link 62 adapted to be reciprocated by means of a cam 63 on the camshaft which cooperates with rollers 64 and 65 on the link 62. A guide plate 67 is secured to the underside of the base plate and serves to guide the link 62 as it moves under the influence of cam 63. On the end of link 62 is carried a downwardly extending pin 66 which passes through an aperture in plate 61 so that although movements of link 62 are imparted to plate 61 to rotate spindle 27, the plate 61 can move vertically with shaft 27 relatively to link 62 when the latter is stationary, the pin 66 sliding in the aperture in plate 61.

Also rigidly secured upon spindle 27 is a plate 68 carrying a vertical pin 69 which serves as a locating pin by co-operation with apertures 70, 71 in a guide plate 72 fixed to the underside of the base plate 1 to ensure that vertical movements of spindle 27 and therefore arm 26 can only take place when said arm 26 is in the correct position over either the magazine or the turntable.

As camshaft 19 rotates to raise the transferring arm 26 as previously described the cam 63 rotates also and when the arm 26 has been fully raised the cam 63 contacts with roller 65 and the link 62 is moved upwards in Fig. 5 and plate 61, spindle 27 and plate 68 are rocked in a counterclockwise direction into the position shown in Fig. 4, where pin 69 registers with aperture 71 in guide plate 67 preparatory to the'lowerin'g of spindle 27,

transferring arm 26 and the connected parts when arm 26 is over the turntable in the manner described above. As rotation of camshaft 19 continues the spindle 27 and the parts connected thereto including the trans fer arm 26 are again raised and when fully raised the cam 63 engages with roller 64 to return link 62 and parts 6l, 68 and 27 from the position shown in 4 to that shown in Fig. and transfer arm 26 to the osition (fiver {he magazine as shown in full ines in The cam 63 is cut away on the lower side 5 as shown in Fig. 5 so that movements of a link 62 can be effected independently of the cam by swingin the transfer arm 26 by hand about its axis 2 after it has been raised by I hand as described above, to permit loading of the magazine.

The arrangement describedalso possesses the advantage that the transfer arm after being manipulated by hand can be left in any intermediate position and the cams will automatically take up the drive to effect the movements of the transfer arm 26 when camshaft 19 rotates,

I claim:

1. In a talking machine of the type embodying record transfer means including a vertically movable spindle, means for raising and lowering said spindle comprising a rock shaft operatively engaging and sup porting said spindle, a'cam, and means including a transmission member operatively interconnecting said shaft and cam, said member comprising two arts, and means connecting said parts w ereby they are I moved in unison for automatic operation of said transfer means, said parts being movable relatively to one another for manual operation of said transfer means.

2. In a talking machine of the type embodyingrecord transfer means and operatin mechanism for automatically operatlng sai transfer means, means operatively connecting said operating mechanism with said transfer means including a transmission member comprising two parts and means connecting said parts together to move as a unit for automatic operation of said transfer means, said connecting means being adapted to permit independent movement of one of said parts relatively to the other for manual operationof said transfer means.

3. In a talking machine of the-type embodying record transfer means and operating mechanism for automaticallyoperatmg said transfer means, means operativel con.-

necting said operating mechanism wit said transfer means including 'a transmission member comprising two parts, and resilient means connecting said parts together to move as a unlt for automatic operation of said 5. transfer means,'said resilient connection between said parts permitting independent movement of one of said parts relatively to the other for manual operation of said transfer means. I

4. In a talking machine of the type embodying record transfer means and operatin mechamsm for automatically operating sai transfer means, means 0 eratively connecting said operating mec anismwith said transfer means including a transmission member comprising two parts mounted for reciprocating movement and means connecting said parts together to reciprocate as a unit for automatic operation of said transfer means, said connecting means being adapted to permit independent reciprocatory movement of one of said parts relatively to the other for manual operation ofsaid transfer means.

, 5. In a talking machine of the type embodying record transfer means and operating mechanism for automatically operating said transfer means, means operatively connecting said operating mechanism with said transfer means including a transmission member comprising two parts mounted for reciprocating movement and resilient connections between said parts 'whereby they move as a unit for automatic operation of said transfer means, said resilient connecs5 tions providing independent movement of one of said parts relatively to the other for manual operation of said transfer means.

6. In a talking machine of the type embodyin record transfer means including a verticafiy movable spindle, means for raising and lowering said spindle comprising a 7 rock shaft operatively engaging and supporting said spindle,-a cam, and means including a transmission member operatively c interconnecting said shaft andcam, said member comprising two parts and resilient means connecting said parts to move as a unit for automatic operation of said transfer means, said resilient bonnections being adapted to permit movement of one of said parts relatively to the other for manual operation of said transfer means.

7. In a'talkingmachine of the type embodying record transfer means including a vertically movable spindle, means for raising and lowering said spindle comprising a rock shaft operatively engaging and supporting said spindle, a cam, and means including a transmission member operatively 11o interconnecting said shaft and cam, said member comprising two parts mounted for reciprocating movement and resilient means connecting said parts'to move as a unit for automatic operation of said transfer means, said resilient connections being adapted to permit independent movement of one of said parts relatively to the other for manual operation of said transfer means. a

8. In a talking machine emb dying record transfer means and operating mechanism for automatically operating said transfer means, means operatively connecting said operating mechanism with said transfer means includng atransmission member comprising two r atively movable parts, resilient connections between said parts, and separate cam means for moving each of said parts.

9. In a talking machine of the type embodying record transfer means including a 18 Fla aevaeae vertically movable spindle, means for raising and. lowering said spindle comprising a rock shaft operatively engaging and supporting said spindle, a transmission member operatively engaging said sock. shaft and including two relatively .mcvable parts, resilient connections between said parts, and

separate cam means for moving each of said I parts.

10. In a talking machine of the type embodying record transfer means including a vertically movable spindle, means for raising and lowering said spindle comprising a rock shaft operatively engaging and supporting said spindle, transmission means including a member operatively connected to said rock shaft and a second member resiliently connected to said first member, cam means for moving said first member to raise said spindle, and cam means to move said second member in a direction to tension said resilient connections as said spindle is lowered.

11. In a talking machine of the type embodying record transfer means including a vertically movable spindle, means for raising and lowering said spindle comprising a rock shaft operatively engaging and supporting said spindle, transmission means including two longitudinally movable members, resilient means normally holding said members together to move as a unit, cam means for moving one of said members in a direction to raise said spindle, and cam means for moving the other of said members in the opposite direction to tension said resilient connections as said spindle is lowered.

12. In a't-alking machine-of the type embodying record transfer means and operating mechanism for automatically operating said transfer means, means operatively connecting said operating mechanism with said transfer means comprising a transmission member formed of two-parts and resilient means connecting said parts together to move as a unit, resilient means tending to operate said transfer means, cam means for moving one of said members in a direction to operate said transfer means, and cam. means for moving the other of said members in the opposite direction to tension said resilient connections to oppose the action of said resilient means.

13. In a talking machine of the type embodying record transfer means including a vertically movable spindle, means for raising and lowering said spindle including a rock shaft operatively engaging and supporting said spindle, resilient means tending to rotate said shaft in a direction to raise said spindie, a transmission member including two parts and resilient connections between said parts,cam means for moving one of said parts in a direction to raise said spindle, and cam means for moving the other of said parts in the opposite direction to tension said resilient connections and to oppose the action of said resilient means as said spindle is lowered. '14. In a talking machine of the type embodying record transfer means including a vertically movable spindle, means for raisin and lowering said spindle comprising a roc shaft operatively engaging and supporting said spindle, resilient means operatively connected to said rock sha t to counterbalance the weight of said spindle, a transmission member including one part operatively connected to said rock shaft and a second part resiliently connected to said first part to move comprising a rock shaft operatively engag,

ing and supporting said spindle, transmission means including a member operatively connected to said shaft anda second member, means resiliently connecting said second member to said first member, means for moving said first member toraise said spindle, means for moving said second member in a direction to tension said resilient connecting means as said spindle is lowered, means tor rotating said spindle about its axis, and guide. means operatively associated with said spindleto prevent vertical movement thereof except in predetermined positions of rotation.

16. In a talking machine of the type embodying record transfer means including a vertically movable spindle, means for raising and lowering said spindle, comprising a rock shaft opera-tively engaging and supporting said spindle, transmission means including a member operatively connected to said rock shaft and a second member, means resiliently connecting said second member to said first member, cam means for actuating said first member to move said second member in a direction to tension said resilient connecting means as said spindle is lowered, means for rotating said spindle, about its axis, and guide means operatively associated with said spindle to prevent vertical move ment thereof except in predetermined positions of rotation.

17. In a talking machine of the type en bodying record transfer means including vertically moving spindle and a record transfer arm carried by said spindle and rotatable therewith about the axis of said spindle, means for raising and loweringsaid spindle comprising a reclr shaft operatively engaging and an porting said spindle, a cam, means inclu a transmission member operatively conneetin said shaft with said cam, said member comprising a plurality of parts,

- means for connecting sald parts w ereby they are movable. in unison for autom tic operation of said transfer means and 'de means operatively associated with sai spindle to prevent vertical movement thereof except in predetermined positions of rotation.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this ification. HARRY THOMPSETT. 

